PP teacher here. There are so many myths about low SES families, especially at title I schools. The majority of the children we served were African-american and Latino and most of the families were working families living with varied forms of wage income insecurity (hours scheduled versus hous paid ), elder care insecurity, major health challenges, and other reasonably overwhelming circumstances. I rarely met parents that did not care about their children just as much as those of greater means. Uniforms provided one less worry in household that could use one less worry.

Compassion before judgement

Former DCPS title I elementary teacher here.

As a teacher at a title I, I loved uniforms. I could go out and have backups in bulk, students looked polished and well put together on field trips, and the lost and found was much much smaller , as the accessories and expensive indoor jackets were pretty minimal. If a student needed a replacement, they didn't stick out as much or as they would have without them. Lost uniforms without name labels just went straight to the uniform closet for recycling. We also had a washer dryer in house for accidents/ families in need.

It also eliminated a lot of mean girl/mean kid bullying issues arising from clothing insecurity.

The truth remains; the likelihood is high that a lower income student will have a higher probability to work a job at some point that requires a uniform. Not saying that schools should be the prepping ground for this truth, however most children that grow up impoverished do eventually wind up wearing a uniform of some sort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people think that lower-income families like uniforms and wealthier ones do not? is there evidence for this?

-another white mom who is happy her kid is in a uniform school now (easier and less expensive; uniforms are pretty inexpensive and need fewer outfits for weekends and evenings)

There’s evidence that uniform policies not only do not help disadvantaged students, but harm them when strictly enforced because on-task, but incorrectly dressed students are pulled from instruction to discipline them for being out of code.

This. It's great that all the white moms who've commented here think uniforms are hunky dory, but there's a different connotation when black/brown kids are wearing uniforms. The whole militaristic culture that surrounds their original implementation is a turn-off for me, as a black parent.

Uh oh, so now it's the black parents who are against uniforms.

Dear racist posters, would you please get your story straight first?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll be provocative: white parents don't want the uniforms, so when you see your uniformed DCPS switch to non-uniformed, you'll know that you've reached the tipping point.

Black parent here. This is why I don’t like the idea of uniforms, and the EOTP vs. WOTP divide in this—too much tied to race in DC. Also, uniforms don’t improve outcomes in low-performing schools, as had been previously thought.

What a dumb comment.

Of course uniforms don't improve outcomes.

Teachers, parents and students do.

With the help of a number of tools...including uniforms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people think that lower-income families like uniforms and wealthier ones do not? is there evidence for this?

-another white mom who is happy her kid is in a uniform school now (easier and less expensive; uniforms are pretty inexpensive and need fewer outfits for weekends and evenings)

There’s evidence that uniform policies not only do not help disadvantaged students, but harm them when strictly enforced because on-task, but incorrectly dressed students are pulled from instruction to discipline them for being out of code.

This. It's great that all the white moms who've commented here think uniforms are hunky dory, but there's a different connotation when black/brown kids are wearing uniforms. The whole militaristic culture that surrounds their original implementation is a turn-off for me, as a black parent.

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of people associate the plain pants plus plain polo shirt look with poor/inner city schools.

My daughter goes to a school with these uniforms. It doesn't help that the mall stores that sell these clothes use raggedy fabrics, so by the day's end, I am embarrassed of how she looks: shirt stretched out and misshapen, stained because white on a five year old. And I don't see how uniforms are cheaper in the long run. Yes, the shirts cost $5. But she has been wearing these cheap polos for two weeks and they already look worn out. Basically forcing kids to wear rags, no pride in appearances. (I'm waiting for mail man to bring some good quality clothes but had to order those online.)

If wearing uniforms is supposed to make poor kids behave better, how about letting them have some recess time instead so they can play and burn off steam, instead of the 20 minutes as at her school and expecting them to obey the rest of the time? Or give kids enough time for work so they can focus, explore their ideas and feel their work matters, rather than rushing them from one exercise to the next? My daughter takes pride in coloring but only has time to "scribble scrabble" at school, and unhappy with the mess.

These environments are built for bad behaviour, what between the kids looking raggedy and being too rushed to make trying worth while because will run out of time before the next task. The opposite of Montessori.

We were at a no-uniform school and now are at a uniform school. One thing I do like about uniforms is the sense of unity it brings to the school community. The rules seem pretty lax, too - polo top in school color and pretty much any style you want for the bottom as long as it's khaki. I saw one student wearing ruffle flared khaki pants and they were super cute and fun!

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to Brent and I Loved the uniforms. we moved to a different state and a school with no uniforms and a lazy dress code. I missed the ease of uniforms and the tidy look of the student body.

I also have fond memories of uniforms when my kid was at a different school. Not sure it necessarily changed how the kids behaved but I thought they looked great and it was so nice and easy knowing exactly what to have them wear every day.

Just wash them!!!